Annual Art Crawl Celebrates Graduating Talents at Watkins, O’More

Graduating seniors of the Watkins College of Art and O'More College of Architecture and Design held their annual Design and Art Crawl Thursday, May 2, putting their professional portfolios and creative thesis projects on display. Attendees were able to travel through the various exhibitions to meet the artists and designers, browse their work and learn more about their creative processes. 

“The Senior Art Crawl was an opportunity for us to showcase all of our best work from the past four years,” explained senior graphic design major Nick Bazzoni. “Both pieces I displayed were advocacy campaigns. I hope they encourage people to treat each other with a little more love.” 

Bazzoni’s Addiction Campaign aimed to change the stigma around drug addiction by pairing images of young boys dressed up as their dream careers with the fact that 38% of people struggle with addiction, illustrating that no one plans on becoming addicted. 

He credits Professor of Practice Doug Regen as being particularly influential to his college growth, sharing, "Doug started as my advisor and was in my corner before he even knew who I was. Since then, he's helped me grow exponentially as a designer and is the reason I got my first job at the Buntin Group." 

Illustration major Marina Ibrahim had several pieces on display, most inspired by her daily life experiences. She described, "My creative process is mainly made up of me thinking, making lists, and doing a million sketches before I decide on the best one and running with it until the end."  

Ibrahim picked works she was proudest of that best represented her Watkins journey - “a cumulation of everything that I have learned here.” She added, "To me, it represents my transformation as an artist...I would have never made this work if I had not come here." 

Ibrahim enjoyed connecting with viewers through her art, which she described as the best part of making it. "I hope that they see how hard I have worked and how hard I'm going to work in the future. I hope they see how much I put into each and every piece." 

Ibrahim reflected that faculty Dan Brawner, Dale Addy and Lauren Lowen have been the most influential, pushing her to make her best work. She said, “I am infinitely grateful to have had the opportunity to be under their guidance.” 

For her senior thesis in Mandy Rogers' advanced studio class, art education major Whitney Pavell created "Fully Functional," a decorative mixed media sculpture. The piece explores the societal pressures and expectations placed on women to take on household duties. 

This piece is a “washing machine” made from wood and decorated with plaster molds of miniature objects and trinkets from Pavell’s childhood. She included small glass mosaics and beads to give it a more decorative surface, referencing imagery from the Rococo period of art history, which was often viewed as frivolous and purely decorative, similar to the way women’s work is seen by society. While the front four sides of the washing machine are decorative and elegant, the back side gives a glimpse into what should power this machine, if it were real, to function.  

"This monument to growing up has allowed me to reflect on my own experiences with the hope others will join in this conversation of functionality in adulthood and the clarity that occurs through reuniting with your inner child," Pavell explained. "The making of this project has allowed me to slow down and find joy in the details, and to reflect on the powerful experience of womanhood. The role of women in society is constantly evolving, as well as my own views on what makes me a functional woman. I am able to fit myself into my own idea of womanhood that has very little do to with the roles often limiting the true value of what women have to offer." 

Professor of Practice Doug Regen highlighted the purpose of the Art Crawl: "The show is a chance for professionals in the industry to come look at portfolios and see the quality of regional and national award-winning work our program is producing. And of course, it's a night to celebrate each student and the hard work they have put in." 

With 24 graphic design, experiential design, and illustration majors making up only half the show and showcasing work across mediums like web design, print, branding and special illustration topics, Regen has seen students "mature as designers and build portfolios of work that is landing design jobs at some of the best design and advertising firms in the city." 

Regen added, "This Art Crawl helps students put their work in front of some of the best designers in the area. It helps them feel confident about what they have designed and allows them to talk about their work and the process." 

Bazzoni concluded that the art crawl was a special moment to share with his classmates and professors. “All our work really boiled down to this show, and watching everyone come, ask questions and appreciate the art we make, makes all the sleepless nights feel worth it,” he said. “To them: thank you for making this journey so special. You all are so incredible and so talented. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you.”